Monitor Audio Silver 100 8G Review

Design

There is no getting away from it: this is a large speaker. Measuring 44 x 23 x 32cm (HWD) and weighing over 12kg, you’re going to need a decent and sturdy set of stands. There are three finishes available: High Gloss Black, Satin White or European Walnut, the latter features a veneer crafted from fully engineered wood.

The build quality is exquisite.  The drivers and their surrounds sit perfectly flush, the edges of the cabinet are neatly finished and there is no doubt this is a premium product. Get up close to the speaker and you will notice hexagonal detailing featured across the product.  It’s incorporated into the surface of the midrange and bass drivers, the tweeter grille and improved waveguide and even around the rear port.  Despite these touches, there are rivals that offer a little more flair in the looks department.

Around the back, the single rear port is new for this series.  It is larger in diameter and features a new design inspired by an owl’s feathers, of all things!  The speaker is finished off with magnetic grilles which, while functional, are not the prettiest objects and I suspect most people will leave them off.

Specifications

• 33Hz – 35Khz frequency response
• 87dB sensitivity
• C-CAM drivers

Unlike 2021’s 7^Th generation model the Silver 100 8G has moved to being a three way design.  Between the 25mm tweeter and 8-inch bass driver is the additional 3-inch midrange driver. The extra driver means you can limit the demands on the bass driver compared with a more typical two way design. Of course, this brings extra challenges in crossover design and ensuring the drivers integrate together, which is why the crossover has been upgraded and new components selected.

When you have been in business as long as Monitor Audio and have been producing a series of speakers as long as this, the challenge is how to move it significantly forward from the previous iteration. Often, rather than reinventing years of progress, manufacturers chase small incremental improvements across the board that collectively result in increased performance. This is exactly what Monitor Audio’s 40 strong R&D team has done here.

We see well established technologies and materials throughout the Silver 100 8G. All three drivers are made from C-CAM (Ceramic Coated Aluminium Magnesium), an extremely strong alloy material that Monitor Audio have been using for years. The speakers feature through-bolt bracing – which secures the driver from the rear of the cabinet, increasing rigidity of both the cabinet and the driver as it moves.

There are numerous under-the-hood upgrades to the drivers themselves, including improved venting systems that control airflow and progressive spiders and magnet systems designed to make sure the pistonic motion of the driver is sharp and responsive. The overall aim, as always, is to reduce distortion and increase clarity. Monitor Audio is obviously confident it have moved the series forward, with its marketing materials boasting “the most capable silver series ever”.

The Silver 1008G boasts an impressive frequency response of 33Hz – 35Khz (+/- 6dB).  The nominal impedance is rated at 8 ohms, while sensitivity is listed as 87dB. This suggests the speaker is a reasonably easy load to drive. With its hefty cabinet, 8-inch bass driver and improved bass port, I was hopeful of a big sound more akin to floorstander-like performance.

Sound Quality

• Big, spacious performance
• Lively character

On firing up the Monitor Audio Silver 100 8G, you are immediately greeted with a large, clean and revealing sound that brings a real sense of vitality to the presentation. 

The benefits of the additional diver and three way design become readily apparent across various music genres. Not only does the extra driver give more space in the sonic presentation for various elements to breathe, but it also works seamlessly with the revised tweeter deliver an impressive level of detail, particularly with vocals and instruments.

The speakers obvious ability to accurately reproduce fine details is on display when listening to Jack Johnson’s Good People. From the muted guitar string strikes that count the track in, to the delicate yet clearly present ride cymbal that enters during the chorus, the Silver 100 8G conveys it all with poise and realism. 

As the track gets busier, it never feels congested. Musical elements start and stop where they are meant to, his mellow vocal still given room to be heard, yet the lazy Sunday morning vibe of the whole production is preserved.

There is a definite forward and lively character to these speakers, and it brings real benefits it terms of engagement. You never feel like you have to work hard to enjoy the speakers rather the music is delivered to the listener. The challenge with a forward and lively presentation is ensuring that it does not get out of hand or fatiguing. Here, the balance is judged extremely well, resulting in a sound that is involving and engaging without being harsh or tiring.

That balance is helped along by the revised 8-inch bass driver and bass port. There is an effortless nature to the bass which is tuneful and not overblown. If its on the recording its gets delivered. 

Listening to Skream’s Dutch Flowerz, this electronic track is built around a heavy and powerful bass line. The Silver 100 8G’s have no problem delivering the weight and impact demanded. 

As mentioned earlier, a three-way design presents more challenges, particularly in the crossover department. Again, the Silver 100 8G excels in this area. The speaker is even and consistent across the frequency range, and the drivers work seamlessly together. The strong low-end extension, combined with the delightful detail retrieval, makes this a wonderfully expressive speaker. 

You feel as though you’re being served everything the music has to offer and I can see most people being in no rush to add a subwoofer.

Should you buy it?